Power actuating mechanism



J. P. DALY ob r IN VENTOR Joseph P Ddly BY zww ATTORNEY POWER ACTUATING MECHANI SM Filed May 15 Oct. 27, 1931.

Patented .Oct. 27, 1931 JOSEEH P. DALY, OF SYRACUSE, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO THE PROSPERITY COM- PANY INQ, OF SYRACUSE, NEW YORK, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK POWER ACTUATING MECHANISM Application filed May 13, 1926.

This invention relates to power actuated mechanism particularly mechanism embodying a double acting fluid operated motor, as a cylinder having a double acting piston therein, and has for its object a particularly simple and eflicient means for controlling the actuation of the piston and when desired hold the piston and hence the mechanism actuated thereby when the piston is at the end of one of its strokes.

The invention consists in the novel features and in the combinations and constructions hereinafter set forth and claimed.

This power actuating mechanism is particularly desirable for machines having movable heads as garment and laundry pressing machines where the time the press is under pressure depends upon the will of the operator.

In describing this invention reference is had to the accompanying drawing in which like characters represent corresponding parts.

The figure is a diagrammatic view partly in elevation, partly in section, and partly broken away, of a press with a fluid motor provided with the two hand control mechanism of the invention.

This power actuating mechanism comprises a cylinder, a double acting piston movable in the cylinder having its rod extending through one end of the cylinder and connected to the mechanism to be actuated, a main feed pipe for a motive fluid having branches connected to opposite ends of the cylinder, each of which branches serve as an intake and exhaust pipe,

a manually operable or controlled reversing valve mechanism in the branches, means for holding the reversing valve mechanism in one of its operated positions. said means being fiuid operated and controlled by the move ment of the piston in the cylinder here shown as acting through some part actuated by the piston, which part operates the valve which t5 directly controls the flow of motive fluid to the fluid operated holding means after the piston has traveled a predetermined distance on one of its power strokes and hence, actuated the motion transmitting part a predeterinined distance.

Serial No. 108,966.

1 designates the cylinder, 2 the piston there in having its rod 3 extending through the head of one end of the cylinder and connected to a motion transmitting part e. The cylinder is provided with means as a bearing 5 at its upper end for pivoting it to the frame of the machine so that the cylinder oscillates during the reciprocation of the piston. The part 4: is a power lever of a pressing machine.

6 is the main intake pipe for a motive fluid as compressed air, this pipe having branches 7 and 8 therein which are connected through the valve casings, to be presently described, to pipes 9, 10 leading respectively to the lower and upper ends of the cylinder 1, each of these pipes being an intake and exhaust pipe. 11 and 12, are respectively the valve casings ofthc reversing valve mechanism, the casing 11 being interposed between the branch 7 and the pipe 9, and the casing 12, between the branch 8 and the pipe 10. The casing 12 which controls the flow of air to the upper end of the cylinder through the pipe 10, encloses combined intake and exhaust valves 13 and 14 connected by the stem 15 so that they act as a unit, the combined intake and exhaust valves 13 and 14 being normally so arranged that the intake 13 is closed and the exhaust valve 14 open, a spring 16 acting on the intake valve tends to close it. The valve casing 11 between the branch 7 and the pipe 9 leading to the lower end of the cylinder has similar combined intake and exhaust valves 17 and. 18 therein connected by a stem 19 and spring 160. these combined valves 17 and 18 being normally arranged so that the intake is open and the exhaust valve 18 closed.

The manual means for operating these valves is preferably a dual or two hand control consist-in of a pair of handles or levers 20. 21 both of which must be operated outwardly partly to straighten a pair of toggles 22 and 23, the latter of which is connected to a link 24E coacting with one arm of a lever 25 pivoted at 26 between its ends, the other arm of the lever pushing against a stem or plunger 27 associated with the exhaust valve 18 in the casing 11. This lever 25 also has a third arm 28 coacting through an interposed lever 99 with a similar stem or plunger 30 on the exhaust valve in the casing 12. A spring 31 acts on the lever to hold it in such position that the intake valve 17 is normally open and the exhaust valve 18 closed, while the intake valve 13 is closed and the exhaust valve 14 open to hold the piston 2 in up position by air pressure when the press or other machine is not in use or operation.

In the figure, the machine is in its msition assumed when the piston is approac ling the limit of its effective power or out stroke, which closes the press. Assuming that the operation begins with the piston at the upper end of the cylinder, operation of the handles 20 and 21 will actuate the lever 25 to open the intake valve 13, close the exhaust valve 14 and permit the spring 16a acting on the valve 17 to close it and open the exhaust valve 18. Air thus flows from the main line 6 to the branch 8, valve casing 12, pipe 10 to the upper end of the cylinder 1 and the air below the piston exhausts through the pipe 9, valve cas ing 11, past the exhaust valve 18 as the piston travels to and beyond the position shown in the figure.

The means for holding the valves 13, 14 in such manually operated position with the piston at the lower end of the cylinder 1 comprises a'fluid operated means acting through the lever 29 on the plunger 30 of the valves within the casing 12 to hold them with the intake 13 open, and the exhaust valve 14 closed. This fluid operated means is here shown'as a diaphragm 32 located in a diaphragm chamber 33 and acting on a plunger 34 which thrusts against the lever 29. The diaphragm chamber is connected by pipes 35, 36, and 37 to the main feed line 6. Valve casing 38, 39 are connected in said pipes as will' be presently described.

The flow of air to the diaphragm chamber 33 is automatically timed or controlled by a valve located in the valve casing 38, connecting the pipes 36 and 37 this valve being designated 40 and being normally held against its seat in closed position by a spring 41. The valve 40 has a stem 42 extending through the top of the casing, the stem having a head 43 which is arranged in the path of some moving part of the press so as to be actuated when the piston approaches the end of its out stroke. As here shown it is arranged in the shoulder 44 on the motion transmitting part 4.

Obviously as the piston moves toward the end of its down stroke. the shoulder 44 will engage and depress the head 43 and hence open the valve 40 permitting the air to flow from the main line 6 through the pipe 37, valve casin g 38,'pipe 36 throughthe-valve casing 39, pipe 35 to the diaphragm chamber 32. Preferably, however. the flow is manually controlled also by a valve located in the casing 39. This is here shown as a normally closed valve 45 held against its seat in the easing 39 by a spring 46, the valve being manually operable by a handle or lever 47 located near the handle 20. This valve 45 is normaL 1y closed. It is obvious that upon the lifting or operating of the handle 47 the air free to pass from the pipe 36 through the easing 39 into the pipe 35 so that after the valve 40 has been automatically opened, it is further necessary in order to hold the piston 2 at the end of its out stroke without keeping hold of the handles 20 and 21, to operate the handle 47.

In order to release the air from the diaphragm chamber and thus permit the reversing valve to operate to permit the air to enter the lower end of the cylinder 2 and exhaust from the upper end of the cylinder 1, means is provided for exhausting the air from the diaphragm chamber 32. This means as here shown is a pipe 48 coupled to the diaphragm chamber and to a valve casing 49 having a normally closed spring pressed exhaust valve 50 therein, which valve is operated to open against its spring by a handle 51 coacting with the stem of said valve 50. The handle 51 is grouped with or located near the handle 21.

Obviously it the handle 51 is operated the valve 49 is moved from its seat permitting the air to exhaust from the diaphragm chamber through the valve casing 49 and outlet valve of said casing. When the air is exhausted from the diaphragm chamber 32, the spring 31 together with the spring 16 will restore the lever 25 and parts connected thereto to their normal position or the position shown in the figure. so that the intake valve 13 in the casing 12 is closed and the exhaust valve 14 open. while the intake valve 17 in the casing 11 is open and the exhaust valve 18 closed. Hence the air passes from the main line through the branch 7 and pipe 9 to the lower end of the cylinder. This valve 17 remains open and in actual use holds the press head of the machine open without the use of counterweights or springs as will be understood by those skilled in the art.

lVhen it is desired to discontinue permanently the use of the, machine, the air compressor is shut ofi or a valve in the main pipe 6 is closed, or valves as 53 in the branches 7 and 8 may be operated to close such branches.

What I claim is e 1. In a pressing machine having an opening and closing movement, cooperative pressing elements and operating mechanism therefor including a cylinder, a double acting piston movable in the cylinder, actuating mechanism between the piston and one of the pressing elements, a combined intake and exhaust pipe leading to each end of the cylinder, a valve casing connected in each of said pipes and having valve means therein for controlling the flow of motive fluid therethrough,

will be- Ill the valve means in one valve casing being arranged to normally close itscompanion pipe against the intake of motive fluid and open said pipe to the exhaust of motive fluid, the valve means in the other valve casing being arranged to normally open the latter pipe to the intake of motive fluid and close it to the exhaust of motive fluid, manual means for operating the valve means in each casing to simultaneously open the normally closed valve means and close the normally open valve means, and means to retain said valve means to their normal position and to restore them to their initial normal position so as to apply power behind the piston to open the machine if'the operator releases the manual means before the machine completes its operation, holding means to hold the valves in their operated position after the press reaches closed position, and manual means for releasing the holding means.

2. In an actuating mechanism for machines having an opening and closing movement and remaining in open or closed position for a period of time suiting the will of the operator, said mechanism comprising a cylinder, a double acting piston in the cylinder, manually operable reversing valve means for controlling the flow of motive fluid to one end of the cylinder and the exhaust from the other, manually operated means to lock the reversing valve in operated position, and means controlled by the movement of the piston during its closing power stroke to render said manually operated means operable to lock said reversing valve in its operated position, and manually operated means for releasing the locking means.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto sifgned my name, at Syracuse, in the county 0 Onondaga, and in the State of New York, this 26th day of April, 1926.

JOSEPH P. DALY. 

